The Democratic National Convention met in Cincinnati on the 2d of June, with full delegations from every State, and two contesting delegations from New York and Missouri. The quarrel between the factions in both States was intensely bitter. The opposing factions of New York were known as the “Hards,” who were a spawn of the old Hunkers, and the “Softs,” who took the place of the Barnburners. The Missouri delegations were known as the Bentonites and the Regulars, the Bentonites having lost the control of the party organization in the State. The convention solved the problem by admitting both delegations from each State, and giving each delegate only half a vote. John E. Ward, of Georgia, was made the permanent president, and the two-thirds rule was reaffirmed without a contest. It was at this convention that Stephen A. Douglas first developed as an aggressive candidate for President, and as he had led the battle for the repeal of the Missouri Compromise, he was in harmony with the Pierce administration. As will be seen by the ballots, his strength was almost wholly given to Pierce until Pierce’s unavailability was clearly established, when the Pierce vote was mostly transferred to Douglas. The following table presents the 17 ballots in detail, resulting in the nomination of Buchanan: ═════════╤═══════════╤═════════╤══════════╤══════ BALLOTS. │ Buchanan. │ Pierce. │ Douglas. │ Cass. ─────────┼───────────┼─────────┼──────────┼────── 1 │ 135 │ 122 │ 33 │ 5 2 │ 139 │ 119-1/2 │ 3-1/2 │ 6 3 │ 139-1/2 │ 119 │ 32 │ 5-1/2 4 │ 141-1/2 │ 119 │ 30 │ 5-1/2 5 │ 140 │ 119-1/2 │ 31 │ 5-1/2 6 │ 155 │ 117-1/2 │ 28 │ 5-1/2 7 │ 143-1/2 │ 89 │ 58 │ 5-1/2 8 │ 147-1/2 │ 87 │ 56 │ 5-1/2 9 │ 146 │ 87 │ 56 │ 7 10 │ 150-1/2 │ 80-1/2 │ 59-1/2 │ 5-1/2 11 │ 147-1/2 │ 80 │ 63 │ 5-1/2 12 │ 148 │ 79 │ 63-1/2 │ 5-1/2 13 │ 150 │ 77-1/2 │ 63 │ 5-1/2 14 │ 152-1/2 │ 75 │ 63 │ 5-1/2 15 │ 168-1/2 │ 3-1/2 │ 118-1/2 │ 4-1/2 16 │ 168 │ ―― │ 121 │ 6 17 │ 296 │ ―― │ ―― │ ―― ═════════╧═══════════╧═════════╧══════════╧══════ As Buchanan was from the North, the Vice-Presidency was conceded to the South, and 10 candidates were placed in nomination. The 1st ballot resulted as follows: J. A. Quitman, Miss. 59 Linn Boyd, Ky. 33 A. V. Brown, Tenn. 29 J. A. Bayard, Del. 31 T. J. Rusk, Texas 2 J. C. Breckenridge, Ky. 55 B. Fitzpatrick, Ala. 11 H. V. Johnson, Ga. 31 Trusten Polk, Mo. 5 J. C. Dobbin, N. C. 13